Improvement in fire-proof shutters



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\ Y GEORGE H.KN|GHT.

lImprovement in Fire Proof Shutters.

-l\10,122,6i5A l Y Pmmd11an.9,1a72.

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lr'nprovement in Fire Proof Shutters. No. 1224.615, PatentedJamg, 1872.

Fig-nl INvENT 0R Y UNITED smarts GEORGE H. KNIGHT,IOF CINCINNATI', OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF SHUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 122,615, dated January 9, 1872.

I, GEORGE H. KNIGHT, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Device for the Automatic Closing of Shutters when subject to unusual heat, of which device the following is a specicat-ion:

The shutters employed on hre-proof buildings are often ineffective from being left open at the critical moment. The present invention is designed -to remedy this defect, and is particularly applicable to metallic shutters that close by springs or gravitation, and that are held open or shut, as the case maybe, by suitable hooks or catches; and the first part of the invention consists in so constructing or attaching the catch that holds the shutter open that its subjection to any unusual heat will cause the catch to drop or bend and thus liberate the shutter.y The secondpart of the invention consists in combining with the above a wire-gauze or similar protection to the windows.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of a window protected by a wiregauze screen and havin g common metallic shutters, closable by customary springs. In this figure one shutter is shown open and the other one is in the act of closing in consequence of the disengagement of its catch under the action of heat. Fig. 2 is au enlarged vertical section of myself-releasing catch. Fig?) shows the parts of the catch in perspective and detached. The remaining gures show modifications of my invention.

The window A, metallic shutters B B', and closing-springs() C may be of any usual or approved form, and the shutters, when closed, should be retained to that position by means .of suitable hooks D D and staples E E', or

other self-engaging device. The shutters when folded back are held to the open position by means of self-releasing catches of the following construction Screwed or otherwise securedto the exposed side of the shutter is a plate, F, preferably of copper. This plate has a vertical slot, f, for the handle or shank g of a self-engaging hook, which may be of the usual gravitating form G, which hook is pivoted in a brass or other suitable bracket, H. This bracket H is united to the rear side of the plate F by a fusible solder, It, capable of melting at aheat much below that which would endanger the building. Tin and lead, as combined 'm common solder, three parts, and bismuth, one part, is one of many alloys that may be used for said fusible solder. In order to permit the proper playof thc hook in ordinary use and its escape from the shutter when subjected to severe heat, that part of the shutter immediately in rear of the plate is slotted as shown at I. The hook G may engage over acustomary staple, J, attached to the wall.

The fusible feature might, if desired, be introduced between two parts of a separable bracket, or in the pivot, or otherwise.

A customary or suitable self-engaging catch for holding the shutter closed is desirable, and may consist of a simple gravitating-hook, of the familiar form shown atD D', whose bracket J may be attached by the same bolt L which fastens the lower end of the plate.

The operation of the device is seen at Fig. l, the heat communicated to the plate F, havin g melted the fusible attachment ofthe bracket H, thelatter withits hook has become detached and are seen hanging to the staple on the wall, while the shutter, being left at liberty, appears in the act of closing. n

My invention is not necessarily restricted to the precise form here selected for illustration 5 for example, a modication of said form is shown in Fig. 4, where M is a bar of zinced iron, or other suitable metal, secured to the sill by a strap, N, composed of fusible alloy. To this, or to the form above shown, may be added a trough or receptacle, O,for brimstone or other readily-ignitible substance, which on becoming iniiamed will cause an instantaneous release of the catch.

Still another modification is seen at Fig. 5, where P P are two metallic bars, Whose bent portions p p are secured to the sill by brimstone or a compound of rosin and brick-dust, or other suitable substance.

Still another modification is represented in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The self-releasing catch in this modification is composed of the two plates Q and R,of copper and steel,respectively, riveted or brazed iirmly together in the form of the lower halt' of an elliptical spring and secured to the wall or sill bya suitable strap, S. The shutter when folded back passes readily over the yielding and beveled extremity of the catch and remains securely held by it until libcrate-d by its deflection under the influence of heat, as seen in Fig. 7. Screws T T may be employed both to secure the catch in its strap and to adjust its tension. The upward play of this form of my seltrelieving catch may be limited by the ends of the sill, as shown,or by any suitable projection from the building, or from the catch itself; as, for example, a jog on the same bearing against the bottom edge of the shutter; or said catch may be attached to the shutter and have a volute or any suitable form.

The operation of the modiiication last recited is as follows: On the approach of such heat from a neighboring contlagration as would endanger the building, the portion Q, owing to its more rapid expansion, operates, by depression, the catch to relieve the shutter, which then closes by the action of the spring. (See Fig. 7.)

For additional security wire-gauze U may be provided outside of the sashes and be either secured thereto, as shown,or be attached to a sepa-rate frame in form of a slide or shutter, or be rolled over a rod in form of ablind. A verge of similar gauze, V, descending from the window-cap or lintel, may serve to allow a slight lowering ofthe upper sash for ventilation, while retaining the protection of the gauze.

Mica may be substituted for the wire-gauze in whole or in part.

O Zaims.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- 1. The method of automaticallr closing shutters when subjected to unusual heat, substantially as set forth.

2. In the described combination with a selfclosing shutter, I claim the selireleasin g catch, substantially as set forth.

3. The device or catch F f G g H, as a new article of manufacture.

4. The elements B C D E F fGg H in the described combination.

5. I claim the gua-rd U of wire-gauze, or its equivalent, in combination with a shutter made to close automatically by heat to provide coniplete security, substantially as described.

6. I claim in this connection the verge V of wire-gauze, for the object designated.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEO. H. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

J AMES H. LAYMAN, JOHN KILOH. (30) 

